The custom of ancestor worship on the Chong Jiu Festival
The Chong Jiu Festival has the custom of ancestor worship and is one of the four traditional festivals for ancestor worship in Chinese culture.In traditional customs, Qingming is called "spring sacrifice," and Chong Jiu is called "autumn sacrifice." Therefore, the custom of ancestor worship on Chong Jiu is practiced in various parts of China, such as the Lingnan area and Shandong province. In the Lingnan region, ancestor worship activities are held every year on Chong Jiu; while in Shandong, people even "worship the mountain of Grandpa."
In ancient times, there was a tradition of ancestor worship and praying for blessings on the Chong Jiu Festival. Whether it's ancestor worship or mountain climbing, the most fundamental purpose is to enhance cultural identity and strengthen family and social cohesion.
[What is Autumn Sacrifice?]
Autumn sacrifice refers to the sacrificial ceremony held in autumn, as mentioned in "The Book of Rites ยท The Theory of Sacrifice": "There are four seasons of sacrifices: spring sacrifice is called 'Yue,' summer sacrifice is called 'Di,' autumn sacrifice is called 'Chang,' and winter sacrifice is called 'Cheng.' " Nowadays, it is mostly associated with moon worship during the Mid-Autumn Festival and ancestral worship on the Chong Jiu Festival.
What are the things to note when performing ancestor worship on the Chong Jiu Festival
1. Prepare items
For ancestor worship and tomb sweeping, you need to prepare offerings such as incense, candles, paper money, fruits, pastries, and vegetarian wine. Usually, three or five items are prepared.
2. Tomb-sweeping time
It is not advisable to go for ancestor worship too early or too late. On the first day of the tenth lunar month, the morning comes later and the sunset happens earlier. Between 9 am and 3 pm, this is a period when yang energy is relatively strong, which can enhance your own yang energy.
3. Clothing color
There are also requirements for clothing when performing ancestor worship. It is best to dress modestly and avoid bright colors, but you should wear one piece of red clothing, such as a red inner garment, red socks, or a red bracelet. This is because cemeteries have a lot of yin energy, and red can ward off evil spirits and ensure safety.
4. Be sincere
During ancestor worship, you should first kneel, then offer incense, burn paper money, and finally perform a grand ritual to pay respects. You should greet the ancestors, state your purpose, and pray for their protection. If you are visiting a relative's tomb, your attitude should still be sincere, but it can be a bit more relaxed, mainly expressing your feelings of missing them and offering greetings.
